Natural Product Switches You Should Think Twice Before Making

Is everything that’s “all-natural” necessarily good for you? It seems like more people than ever are opting to go natural, from organic parenting to organic food. Of course taking care of your body and the environment are great things, but not every natural move is the right one.

Even when something says that it’s 100% safe, it’s always a good idea to do a little extra research just to double-check. So we’ve looked into these natural products, foods and trends. And we found that it’s a better idea to skip out on these natural moves — or at least pause to make sure that they’re the right ones for you.

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Skipping Out on Vaccinations

Natural moms are always on the lookout to avoid unnecessary chemicals, but lots of moms with stories like these say you’re better safe than sorry.

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Swap Soda for Fruit Juice

It’s a good idea to read the label before you take a drink. Even some “all natural” fruit juice actually has more sugar than the soda you gave it up for because it’s made from concentrate.

Switch Sugar for Agave

We’re all tired of nutritionists flip-flopping on what is healthy and what isn’t, but it looks like agave is on the outs again. It’s a different sweetener than sugar but can actually be worse for you.

The better all-natural sweetener? All signs seem to point to plant-based stevia which is much gentler on your blood sugar (and easier to cook with).

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Jumping In On Natural Beauty Products

It’s easy to assume that “natural” means “perfectly safe” but skin can have a bad reaction to natural products as well. Before you switch to any natural product — especially if you have sensitive skin — it’s important to test it first. Many natural herbs and oils can cause sever reactions.

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Mineral Oil

Many natural hair gurus may have told you that mineral oil is a no-no for black hair because it blocks moisture. And while it’s not damaging to natural hair, it doesn’t give it moisture (and blocks moisture from reaching it) and can clog the pores in your scalp.

And contrary to popular belief, despite being clear and having “mineral” in the name, mineral oil isn’t a natural oil — it’s derived from crude.

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Switching to Smoothies

A fruit smoothie isn’t always healthier than a frappucino. Some even have twice as many calories (plus food coloring and other additives).

A better healthy diet move? Make yours at home and count the calories that go in them. Then store it in a Yeti for an all-day cold beverage.

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Trusting Any Wheat Bread

You can’t always trust the packaging in the grocery store. Even brands that say they’re made with “100% wheat” are often mostly white bread.

How can you find the real thing? Read the nutrition label; the good stuff will have at least 2 grams of fiber per slice.

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Automatically Opting for the Salad

We thought it was the healthiest move too, until we heard about these restaurant and fast food salads. Some of them have so many calories and preservatives, you’d be better off having a grass-fed burger instead.

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Trying St. John’s Wort

This all-natural supplement has a reputation for helping people with anxiety and depression. But the science is still out on whether it actually helps. And it can make the other medication you’re taking stop working.

It’s better to talk to your doctor before taking any natural supplement, but especially this one.

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“Natural” Hair Products

The “natural” hair product market has been booming. But not all products are created equal. Steer clear of any bottle with these ingredients near the top of the list. Many are far from natural and can do more harm to your hair than good.

The safest bet? Look for natural hair products with ingredients and natural oils you can recognize and pronounce in the first five ingredients.